Memorial Day thoughts

On Monday we observe Memorial Day. Originally called Decoration Day, this holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. Throughout the weekend we’ll be sharing some stories and photosÂ of memorials and parades, and we invite you to post yourÂ thoughtsÂ on MemorialÂ Day.Â

2 Responses

On Memorial Day we pause to remember those of our forebearers who made the ultimate and sometimes lingering painful sacrifice to protect our freedoms. These brave men (and women)stepped forward to answer their nations call to fight tyranny, giving their all so that we should continue. It is important to remember their efforts in service to us all.
It is also a time to remember those who stepped forward to answer what they perceived as a call to protect freedom, only to be wasted in greed inspired resource wars pushed on Americans by monied interests whose goals, while wrapped in the mantle of patriotism, were little more than land grabs to protect the interests of big business. The Spanish American war is a prime example of this type of useless wasting of America’s youth as well as Vietnam and the hoped for control of the oil in Iraq during the current contrived conflagration.
We must always rise to the call to protect legitimate freedom, but must be aware enough to not invest our youth in wars of economic agression to benefit those among us who seem unwilling to invest their own children in such less than noble causes they seem quite willing to let the poor and less educated die for.

68% of the American population is sick and tired of being told that the war in Iraq is protecting American freedom. 911 happened because the Middle East is tired of us being over there. Already the US has plans on who is to take over the oil fields in Iraq when we win this war. Its nice to have a special day to remember those who died fighting wars. However the ones who fought and the ones who lost loved ones will never forget. My father is a WW2 vet and he has never forgotten the number of times he thought that he would never come back alive. He witnessed the true horrors of war. His friends being blown apart and eaten alive by sharks. There were so many bodies in the waters that the ships had to turn off their propellers. The US government needs to better honour people who survived our wars by providing better health care for them. Anyone who knows VA health care system knows what universal care will be like if we should ever have one for all Americans. My father did not celebrate Memorial Day. He prefers not be be reminded. He and many others would rather be honoured with a much better health care. They deserve it and so much more rather than just a special day.